Onion digging and harvesting machine



sept. s, 1953 Filed June 14, 1951 E. H. DRAKE ONION DIGGING AND HARVESTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheetl 1 `o ILD :3 gg :NVNTOR n, E.H.Dm.Ke

Sept. 8, 1953 E. H. DRAKE ONION DIGGING AND HARVESTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1951 liv Sept. 8, 1953A E. H. DRAKE oNIoN DIGGING AND HARVESTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 14, 1951 INVENTOR E.y H .'.DrcL Ke BY @CPM T oRNEY Sept. 8, 1953 E. H. DRAKE oNIoN DIGGING AND HARvEsTING MACHINE `5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June` 14, 1951 "FTCl-l'.

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INVENTOR E.|1-. '.Dro. Ke

ATT'ORNEY Sept. 8, 1953 E. H. BRAKE ONION DIGGING A ND HARVESTING MACHINE 5 ,sheets-sheet 5 Filed June 14, 1951 las INVENTOR E. H. Drake. BY RNEY 'Patented Sept. 8, 1953 .ONION DIGGING AND HARVESTING MACHINE Enoch H. Drake, Marshall, Mick Application June 14, 1951, Serial No. 231,467l 4 Claims. (Cl. 555-137) The present invention deals broadly with harvesting machines, and in its specific phases with machines for harvesting onions.

The harvesting of onions is an exceedingly difficult matter since onions at harvest time have a large portion of their tops lying on the 'ground and even partially covered with dirt while a few of the onions will have upstanding stiff seed spikes which will cause the onions to be tipped over if a harvester is passed over them. The onion bulbs moreover generally set exposed on the top of the ground and are only held in place by means of the roots below same. The onions when freshly harvested must also have an inch or two of the top left on same so that the strength of this portion can be drawn into the onion as it dries and cures after harvesting. These problems involving the topping, digging, and elevating of the onions and delivery of same into crates or the like have been so diflicult of solution that, up to the present time, no fully successful harvesting machine hasV been produced. It was a recognition of these problems and difficulties as well as a knowledge of the complete lack of a satisfactory onion harvester on the market which lead to the conception and development of the present invention.

Accordingly among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a new and novel onion harvesting machine adapted to top, dig, elevate, and deliver onions to crates or the like.

Another object is to provide relatively rigid fingers for preliminarily lifting onion tops, and with those ngers supplemented by driven lifters for positively raising the onion tops prior to cutting same.

Another object is to provide suction lifting to supplement the driven mechanical lifters for the onion tops and to hold the latter in position for cutting.

Another object is to provide an onion harvester with whirling knives for severing the lifted onion tops so that they can be removed and discharged by means of a blower. v

Another object is to provide the blower with a sidewise discharging outlet which is rotatably mounted for delivery of the severed tops on either side of the machine.

A further object is to provide the apparatus with two motors, one of which, among other things, propels the machine along the rows to be harvested, while the other drives the blower.

A further object is to provide the apparatus with a rotary sweep-type loader adaptedr to sweep the dug onionsonto a conveyor for elevating and delivering them to crates or the like.

A further object is'tc provide a clutch for disengaging the rotaryk loader member at all times except when the harvesting of onions is to take place.

A further object is to provide an apparatus which is readily operable by an operator walking behind the apparatus and'wherein the handling of crates can be readily taken care of by one man.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the harvesting means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings, and the following description setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

' In the annexed drawings:

Figure 1 shows a side elevational assembly view, with a wheel and some other parts removed, illustrating a preferred form of the harvesting machine of the Vpresent invention.

' Figure 2 shows a top view of the assembly illustrated in,` Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the assembly illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a front elevational view of the cutting knives and drive for same as viewed along line 4 4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. Y

-Figure 5 shows an enlarged 'fragmentary top view of the digging and conveying portion of the assembly illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows a fragmentary side elevational View of the digger, the conveyer, and its drive, as illustrated in Figure 5, but without showing the inclination ofv same which appears in Figure 1.

Figure 7 shows an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the rotary loader which pushes the material being harvested onto the conveyer. Figure 8 shows an enlarged fragmentary front View of the vclutch and drive mechanism for the rotary loader of Figure '7, as viewed along line 8,-8 of Figure 9 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 shows a rfragmentary side View as taken at lines-9 of Figure 8 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 shows a fragmentary top view ofthe assembly illustrated in Figure 8, as taken along line llli Il looking in the direction of the arrows.

vFigure 11 shows a vfragmentary center sectional view of the clutch shaft and members associated therewith, all in substantially the same position as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 12 shows diagrammatically, in a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, the linkage used for lifting the front end of the elevator assembly, and which for clarity has been omitted from the other figures.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the onion harvester has a frame I with the :forward end of same supported on a caster-type adjustable wheel assembly 2 while the rear end of the frame has conventionally mounted thereon an axle shaft assembly 3 on the outer ends of which are keyed wheels 4 which preferably have large cross section tires 5 to support the apparatus with a minimum of sinking into the ground under harvesting conditions. In order to operate and steer the apparatus, a pair of rearwardly extending handles Ii are provided. The onion top lifting and cutting portions of the assembly are at the forward end of the apparatus while the digging and elevating portion is immediately therebehind. At the rear of the onion elevator there is preferably provided a crate supporting assembly 1 as is more particularly shown in Figure 1.

The mounting of the adjustable wheel assembly 2 at the forward end of frame I involves the use of a sleeve 8 rigidly anchored to frame I and carrying the usual bearings therein (not shown) for upright shaft 9. This shaft is provided with upper and lower collars I and II conventionally anchorable to shaft S for adjusting the height of the frame I above wheel I2 which is rotatably mounted in conventional manner on shaft I3 which passes through the lower end of fork member I4 of the caster wheel assembly 2. This permits raising and lowering of the forward end of the harvesting machine frame as required.

The propelling of the apparatus to and from the harvest field, as well as during harvesting, is taken care of by an engine I5, preferably of the gasoline driven type, with conventional controls including a clutch (not shown) for individually driving each wheel with said clutches being operated through control levers i6 and I1, Figure 2. The engaged position of the control levers for these clutches is shown in solid lines in Figure l, in connection with control lever I6, while thedisengaged position is shown in dotted lines. Engine I is mounted on frame I, as is shown in Figure 2, and is connected byv means of a drive shaft extending in conventional manner through drive shaft housing I8, Figure 1, to dierential I9 through which engine I5 is connected tothe stub axle shafts on which wheels 4 are mounted. The tank 20 is used for carrying the gasoline which operates engine I5.

In order to power drive the propelling of the whole apparatus, operate the lifting assembly lll4 (Figure 1 which primarily lifts the onion tops, and to drive the cutting assembly 22, as well as the blower assembly 2,3 for disposing of the cut onion tops, it is ordinarily best to have, in addition to engine I5, a second engine 24 which operates on gasoline or the like supplied from tank 25, although it is obvious that the whole harvesting machine could be power driven by one engine and it is intended that the showing in the drawings be considered as diagrammatioally illustrating same. Engine 24 is conventionally connected to drive shaft 26 by means of a belt drive 21, or the like. Shaft 23. inr turn is operably connected by means of a second belt drive 28 to blower 29, of blower assembly 23. Engine 24 thus solely drives blower 29 and takes enough load olf of engine I5 so that it can be relatively small and yet satisfactorily operate the other driven parts of the assembly.

The discharge end of blower 29, Figure 1, is provided with a delivery pipe 36 .on which is rotatably mounted an elbow member 3i with a hand wheel 32 connected thereto for rotating elbow 3l to direct the air stream carrying the severed tops in desired direction which normally is to the side of the assembly where the onions have been harvested. The inlet of blower 29 is in the form of a tubular member 33 at the forward end of the assembly and that tubular member has mounted on its forward end an inverted generally V-shaped suction box 34, Figure 3, with the bottom and lower front faces of the two legs of this inverted V-shaped member being open and of a spacing substantially the same as the distance between two rows of onions to be harvested. In order to make it possible to better understand the operatic-n of the onion top cutters 35 the back portion of these inverted V- shaped members have been omitted in Figure 3.

In the course of the growth of onions and especially when they are near their full growth, a considerable portion of the tops of the onions in a row get broken over so that they lay on the ground and become matted and even partially covered with dirt under the effects of driving rain. In order to harvest the onions, it becomes necessary to lift these tops Awhich lay down so that they can be properly severed from the onion bulbs. To take care of the preliminary raising of the tops a lifting assembly 2l, Figures l and 3, is provided at the front of the onion harvesting machine. Each row being harvested by the machine has one of these lifting assemblies and each of such assemblies hasv a pair of downwardly extending and sidewise projecting members with a rod like member 36` adapted to extend along side of the row of onions being harvested and contact or slightly dig into the ground so as to pass under the onion tops and mechanically lift them as the apparatus is being propelled forward and along the row of onions. VWhile this preliminary lifting of the onion tops is a starting measure, it is not enough when the tops have been heavily matted or pressed down with dirt. In order to take care of this situation, each row of onions tok be harvested through the aid of harvesting assembly 2I utilizes a power driven apparatus 31 as is more particularly shown in Figure 3. Since each power driven apparatus 31 is identical with the others, only one will be described. Each power driven apparatus 31 is supported on rod-like member 36 and consists of a plate 3 8, Figure 1, anchored as by welding torod 36, That plate in turn is provided with forward and rear pinions 39 and 4I), Figure 3, around which pass a chain 4I having outwardly projecting teeth l2r thereon at spaced intervals. A conventional flexible drive 43 is connected to pinion 4,0. for rotating same and moving said chain 4I so that the side of same facing the row being harvested will move backward and upward to forcibly carry the onion tops into a substantially upright cutting position in front of thev suction inlet to suction box 34. A guide rod 55 is preferably supported on rod-like member 36 and follows along and over chain 4I to help guide the onion tops to the. cutting posiion.

bring together the onion tops of a row ofronions, agsuitable drive for same must be` provided.

There is diagrammatically shown in Figures 1 and 3 a plate 44 on which four pinions 45 are conventionally mounted for rotation and actuation of the flexible drives 43 with a drive chain 46 connecting them in the manner shown. One of these pinions 45 is connected to a power drive shaft 41, Figure 1, which is connected by a chain drive 48 to a second shaft 49 which is connected by spur gears 50 and 5| to shaft 52 which is driven by engine I in conventional manner, such as through differential I9.

With the onion tops mechanically lifted and held taut by the suction of blower 29 asexerted on the onion tops at the inlet of suction box 34, those onion tops are in a position to be severed from the onion bulb. To accomplish this, shaft 49Figure 1, has mounted on its forward end a pulley 53, Figure 4. 'Ihat pulley in turn drives a second pulley 54 by means of a belt 55. Pulley 54 is mounted on shaft 56 and that shaft in turn is carried near its upper end on an arm 51 and near its lower end on a cross bar 58 which is joined at its ends to endwise adjustable upright posts 59 and 68 which pass through sleeves 6| and 62 rigidly connected to brackets 63 and 64 mounted on frame I, as is more particularly shown in Figures 2 and 3. Mounted onY the lower end of shaft 56, Figure 4, is a rotary knife 35 while a second like rotary knife 35 is similarly mounted on a stub shaft 61 carrying on its upper end a pulley 68 which is connected to pul-y I leyV 69 on shaft 56 by means of a belt 10. With the knives mounted in this manner, it will be noted that they both rotate in the vsame direction and in unison with the operation Vof power driven shaft 49. In order to raise o r lower cutting blades 35, upright posts 59 and 6 0 may be moved up or down through sleeves 6| and 62 and anchored in fixed position therein by means of set screws 1|, Figure 4, so that the onion tops will be severed under operating conditions at the desired distance above the onion bulb.

After the onions have been topped,v the next step involves lifting them from the ground and elevating them for delivery into a crate 12 or the like, Figure 1. paratus is provided with an velevating assembly 13 which has side members 14, each mounted at its rear end on side supports of crate supporting assembly 1. The side supports 15 are of general inverted U-shape, as shown in Figure 2, and same is anchored to handles 6 by means of a pair of U-members 16. Side supports 15 are provided with a pair of braces 11 the forward end'of which is anchored to the differential I9 in conventional manner. Handles 6 are also braced by means of a pair of braces 18, the forward ends of which are also conventionally anchored to differential I9, adjacent the bottom thereof. Handles 6 are are also fastened in conventional manner to differential I9 which in turn is conventionally anchored to frame I.

The forward end of elevating assembly 13 is held against side sway by means of a pairA of arms 19, Figure 1, the upper ends of which are rigidly anchored at opposite sides of frame I To take care of this, the apwhile the lower ends of said arms 19 are loosely and slidably held against the side of side members 14 by means of a member 80 rigidly fastened to the outer face of each side member 14 inpmanner permittingv the forward end of theV elevating assembly 13 to be moved up and down to a limited extent. 'I'his member 89 has a sidewise offset portion for arm 19 as is shown more particularly inFigure 5, while the forward end of member flares outward and upward to support the outer face ofja shield member 8|, Figure I1. l n Y j The forward end ofl the elevating assembly has a flat cross'plate 82,y Figure 5, fora purpose to be hereinafter described. Projecting forward g from. elevating assembly 13, and joined thereto under plate 82, is a multiplicity of forward extending digging fingers 83 which are closely spaced so that onions will slide along their upper face, while the whole apparatus is being moved-forward, and yet Will allow small stones and dirt to pass through same. In order to permit elevator assembly 13 to have its forward end adjusted up and down to meet varying digging conditions, the rear end of the, elevator assembly is pivotally mounted on side supports.

ly mounted on a conventional pivot 88. Theupper end of bellcrank 81is pivotally joined to one end of rod 89. Thatrod in turn is ,pivotally connected to operating lever which in turn is pivotally joined to handles 6 in similar manner to control levers I6 and I1. 92, Figure 2, which connect to control levers I6 and I1, as well as rod 89, Figure 12, connected to operating lever 90, are each preferablylprovided with a moderate offset bend atits operating end, as shown, so that whenV the operating levers are in lowered position the rods will bel rmly held in operating position. Y Y

The elevating assembly 13, as is shown in Fig.

ure 5, is provided with a multiplicityrof lengthwise extending closely spaced rods 93 so that any loose dirt adhering to onions moved thereover will drop therethrough. This elevating assembly 13 has, as a part thereof, a conveyercwhich includes a forward shaft 94, Figure 6, and a rear shaft 95, on the opposite ends of eachV of which are respectively mounted chain sprockets 96 and 91. Conventional bearings (not shown) are used for supporting the ends of these shafts 94 and 95, and mounted on the sprockets 96 and 91 of same are chains 98 and 99, Figure 5. Mounted crosswise of elevator assembly 13 and joined at their ends to said chains 98 and 99,

are a multiplicity of spaced apart elevator cross bars |00, Figures 5 and 6. Those cross bars.

rest on top of rods 93 and slide upward on the upper face of same during operation of the elevator.

Mounted on the rear end of elevator assembly 13 at opposite sides thereof are shield members I 0I and |02 which act as bafes forr delivering' In order to drive chains 98 and. 99 and their Rods9| and.

conneeted'elevator cross.- bars-S .arsprocket I 05,1'- Fgiure' 651s mountedlonihub |06 'of/the -right hand wheek 4. Connecting-what-sprockettdfsprocket I 06-`isla-chain V1I 016 Sproeket='-I utilis-mounted one astubshat I08,1LFi'g-ure 5, which". carrieswaispur 5. gem-|09 ionsits' outerfendn' 'Ilatispur-#gear is'l adapted fto-:mesh -Withfsliding gear 'I Hl -whi'dhse keyed on shaft 95 and adapted to be moved endl-F- Wise.1infand.out"ofr1esh Wirtin'spurigear4 I Ilsby means of.' a# conventionaloperating 1 lever I I2 Ibi 10 Itfisi l-thhs tori be :seen thatwhen 'th'e=onionhar-i vesteris tor-bef-movedunder lits-own: power from-1 :tie-lfd td: el'd r or; theI 'like; -duririgf which ltime #the elevating fof V onions isA notwrequiredioperatingl lever SmFigure 112,'5'may befoperatedl 'to lift fthef'l forward vend f of i elevating-assembly :13 and f'slid# ving :gear I Ml may Joe :disengaged 'fromi'spur 'gear f' 109 which will thus-place the Lapparatus'in' condition: for ftransportation so :faras the felevatin'g L mechanismseoncerned.- 20" Irthe. digging lofi 'thelfonio'nsiI as theA-fmachine f'- meves forward alongltheirowsfithas beenffoundf'l that some f-means. should beprov-ided-for- `push-l ing. vthe .fon-ions: rof of `theihdigging #A fingers A83, Fi'gure 115;; andionto rods". 93 (Where the velevator -25 crossnbars 1I Gus canlslide :them upwardI for 'delivery intorfcrate 'l2 Sor-'the likers. Av'converrienti-Way Aof taking care` of, this .transfer .of l the' onions foff-y of l the. .diggingczfingers .83 is. to provide .a .-ifla't cross plaitell withJthat cross platefsuiicientlyifele- 30 vated atiitsmrear ledge'xtowperrnit.` the- :elevatorcross bars'I-I wie pass-.thereunder and pickup :the i' onionsfias they: aare'pushed "ofi :ofl'rplate -1'82' `onto rodsS.

Afieonvenient formrof apparatusv. for pushing 35*- thesonio'ns. acrossrplaiteiis= illustrated-in Fi'gune: .a7 This.Y 1 pusher apparatus-f I I2 Eis provided 1i with :1a Eshaft? IISIWith. end plates'al It and 'I Mounted on shaft-i113fbetweenfsaidendplates coiziventionallyI :joinedra series of sweeping :blades I is'l'z. Thesewbladesxare preferably made' fout `-of heavy-ffrubben belting. anchored edgevvise-f and-f testsifs. have' r indicated u that four" such sweepe ingzfbliadesA =I I1; wiil.meetmost'frequirements- The f 45 ends'fof .fshaftl LI I-3 are conventionally mounted f orrrbearingsxrnot 'shown )1 niountedr in f fixed polsition ',to isidexmembers' 14T Tof'. the fele'vating as-l sembly "1311;,

The pusherrapparatusfi |22 has mounted on cnaf-50 end :ony its :shaft I I3ia sprocket @l I-'8,l` Figure 1, v conneetedby. 'chain f I i 9 toi sprocketVl i 2 if;inounted omsha-ft *.IZIFigure'vSJ Oni." the -v-oute'r end-fof shaft .'I 2d is: mounteduasprocket l 22, Figure e1 11g A whichismonneetedubyimeans of chain' I Zsliglvv 55 uresal and-:2,:toi'sprocketf121k conneotedto theo* huniosthezflefthand.Wheel 4.2

Shaitll 2dr Figure v8, 'islmounted on- 'a 'slidingaff block |25, Figure 9, carried in Ways |26 of angu`^=- larisupportingfmember. I 2-1'. Which'isi rigidly'an- 6G chorediitfx frame IA Sliding vbloekf- |25 .'is \re*- silientlyhldl-in elevated :position-:by means-'of a compressions springsl 28 which? holds chains 'I I-Sl-"fl an@ I2$relative1yftight atalltinres-l Support"- ing member I2-`Ifis of angular construction fas `65VA shown fin Figure-9 'soithat xi/herr.'v mounted .Within thef` :correlatedfrparts :r intheY positiongshown' Figure f1, it will-:permitthei forward fendv'of 'e1 vating.assemblyl J3'Ito 'be pivotally movedt about 1 pivots :84ste a :limitedf extentiWithoutidisturbing: 270' i this will directly oonnectisprocket I22- with# spnscketl I 20 isoA that-they LWill rotate inl unison with-the result that any `rota-tion of sprocketv iZK-g Figurle'l, l will cause lpusher apparatus' I I2 to beiA rotated "-in "proper-fdii"ection for sweeping onions or the like' foft'ordi'gging f fingers' andf deposit-'1r ing :therri'f on `elevating assembly f 'I3 in "position" for; delivery to crate-'12.L

Inorde'r to' knieve shaft l' I 2 i" endwisei there fis providedf' anlioperating assemblyV -I34,` Figures '8 and 3,'consist-ingnof an'operatingllever I35f'pi @tally Imounted at its `lower endona bracket i3d extendingfrom the'sideofl'shding block'lf Pivotallyl -connected to' ioperating -'1ever"-' I 35T is a forked end-bracket I 3'If-'Which engages :theicirlv cumferential Vslot -I3'I irl they endlofish-aftiIZ- "50" that movementJ of operating lever-l I 35'will"'1nove that shaft endwisef In' 'order to 'hold bperating lever LI 35 in position Withorosslpini'i 32 engaging -slot |33, there is'provided-'a slotted holding mem-*f ber: i I 3 811Whiehcarrie`s a Lspring actuated gripper I39If`so that when-leveri is'moved-toitsouterr mostgfor operating',Y positionv thev spring actuated gripper Will resiliently hold Asamein thatposition.

Other vmodes of applying the principle-of my? invention may'be employedinstead of theoneW explained, 'vchangebeing 'made as regards the 'ap paratus hereindisclosed;- provided' the"`r means" statedhyanygof the'follo'wing claims or .the Vecuiiv'a-lentofsuch' 'stated means be employed." Y

I 'therefore'"particularly 'point out and Idis'- tinctly claimas my invention :F

1.` In an onion "harvesting machine, a mobile frame,aconveyor on said frame including a plu`= rality"of"forwardly Ydeclin'ediparallel bars with?` their foiwardendsiadja'cent the -ground line,- an endless'. conveyor including spaced flights trained around said bars Withfthe nights extending transverse'lythereof, an onion digging elementA on said conveyor at the forward lower ends of,the..bans A and a rotary .onion pusher element havingY onion.A sweeping 'blades extending transversely.. above said' onion digging element forsWeepingthe-dug l K onions .from the digging ,element onto.V the- .for-- ward lower endsof .the bars oisaid conveyon i 2.`An .onion harvester'as inola'im L'whereinlx the onion digging element. comprises a plurality.. of forwardly extending parallel.diggingVngers-w `Anlonion. harvester as incla'im1Whe1'einJ-1 the conveyor` .comprises sidelwmembers. parallel-- ing thl forwardly declined parallel` bars-anda."- shield: at` the -forwardend of` each iside-member to.-preventthe lateral escapeof dug onions;

4. xAnonion4 harvesterN asf in claimwl, ivi/herein'. the veor-iveyor oomprisesvside memberspara'llelinguthe forwardly-'declined' parallel'lbars', a shieldlat-thefoward Yfend :ofi eaclrisidememherto pre`- vent thezlaterelscaperor dug-onions;- and an' ini" Wardlyf'directedshield? at the rear lupper Vend 'of-f each side member for concentrating the onions to .a point of discharge from the conveyor.

ENOCH H. DRAKE.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 10 Name Date Walz et a1. Dec. 30, 1947 Wurtele Feb. 3, 1948 Schiller June 27, 1950 Bennett'l Nov. 14, 1950 Walz et a1. Jan. 16, 1951 Sampson Dec. 18, 1951 

